Friday, 23 November 2012

Late, late, late, I know. My husband was hording the picture on his iPad. But here they are at last, Diego and Fiona at the CFA world show in Columbus Ohio. They are hanging out in their Sturdi pop up. Fiona finally relaxed the second day and was more mellow than I've ever seen her at a show. And it was an big show. There were near a thousand cats with a echoing hall ,a P.A. system that sounded like Charlie Brown teacher speak and a gym meet across the partition. I feared she'd be curled in the back of the tent the whole time but she actually started coming out of her shell. Maybe we just need exhibiting practice.

What really made the trip was getting to met Laura , Lynn and Robin, fellow RagaMuffin breeders. And we got to hug new 'Muffins. Bonus!

Monday, 1 October 2012

Well, in spite of not knowing top from bottom about cat shows, our lovely girl Fiona has earned the ribbons for CFA champion status. Will we go on fighting 'till the end? I'm not sure. Fi just doesn't seem to like showing. It's not the handling, and it's not the driving. Being in the show hall with all the other cats though, it makes her shy. Even her favorite tuna only makes things tolerable. This Queen may only go a few more rounds, and then bow out of the spotlight if she doesn't perk up.

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Scallywag Rags Don Diego had made it home to Soft Kitty Cattery. He's such a wonder kitten. He wasn't scared leaving home after one initial moment of "Ahhhh! Outdoors!" The Sturdi pop up was disdained and he rode in style across my sons shoulders. No car fear, no worry about shut doors. Now he's a Canadian too, having made it over the border. Welcome to Ontario Diego!

Friday, 10 August 2012

I'm very happy to say, RagaMuffins are now CCA recognized! I got this email today, such good news!

*****************************

It is with pleasure that the Standards Committee announces the acceptance of
the RagaMuffin (LH) into Championship status of CCA.

Final approval of the standards was given on Wednesday, August 8 by the CCA
Board of Directors. A 60 day waiting period is required before
the RagaMuffin can compete for points or titles (October 7,
2012).

In the meantime, breeders/owners of these breeds are allowed to
enter and present their kittens, cats, or alters at CCA shows in the New
Breed class. This would allow judges to familiarize themselves with the
breed prior to the official recognition date of October 7, 2012. Regular
entry fees are required. No finals or points are awarded during this 60 day
waiting period.

Please cross-post this announcement to other breed/cat
lists you may belong to.

Sunday, 10 June 2012

The Soft Kitty kitty household is very excited, we might be getting our first boy. We're in the early stages of ogling...err, evaluating this little fella to be a future stud muffin.

If the stars align and the kitty fairy godmother's agree that he's got the right stuff, he'll be coming up to woo our ladies Fiona and Glory. We've even put some thought into a potential name for this little masked bandit of hearts, Diego Vega. Ole!

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Excitement, razzle, dazzle, we have cat show magic. Fiona did very well for her first show with 3 finals, especially considering she was as shy and upset as I've ever seen her. Oh, and so very warm.
A big thanks to the golden triangle cat club for being such wonderful show hosts, Nancy Grandison entry clerk extraordinaire for helping us get signed up correctly, and all the marvelous judges who juggled our girl and liked her in spite of her stage fright.

Saturday, 19 May 2012

Yesterday, in the hour I had between errands, I managed to defeat the many headed form beast. Now Fiona is all registered with the C.F.A. In one week's time we give her a bath, help her to look mmmmmarvelous, (natural for her, so it should be easy!) and we will have a cat show princess. That's as long as she can pose as pretty in a judges ring as she does in the laundry basket.

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Anyone looking at our cattery name will guess that we are Big Bang Theory fans. In the The Zazzy Substitution Sheldon gets a cat, Robert Oppenheimer. The whole Manhattan project in feline form is soon gathered, along with Zazzles, who's just so Zazzy. The strange part for me is that I found out an early RagaMuffin from the Encore cattery was named Pizzicato Pizzazz, affectionately called Zazzie. When his stud days were done, he retired to Texas.

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Glory has been bouncing back since her flight from Florida Tuesday. Lots of time purring, sleeping, and pouncing solo in a room with just one or two people. She doesn't seem to mind people. The dogs and cats still kind of tweak her tail. This morning she graduated from shut door to baby gate and Fiona jumped right in. They have been circling each other slowly, with the occasional rumble when one gets too close. Now Glory is behind my monitor, Fi is on the fleecy bed, and Vadar pug is snoring away. He was feeling most deprived stuck away from his spot (aka. my lap). Romana even made a short visit for lab puppy sniffing fun. She's such a good pup, no charging, no barking, just a friendly long nose that gets pulled back when the kitten warns her off.

Sunday, 15 April 2012

It's been a busy while since I last posted. We've gone to our first cat show, gotten our first memberships and cattery name from three of the main cat registries, gotten our business name registered, and gotten a web domain (Softkitty.ca). But best of all, we've added a second lady to our household. Meet Rivendell's Gold -n- Glory of Soft Kitty. She's not here yet, but will be arriving the 24th. We're so excited!

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

We'd originally worried that the dogs would be too much for Fiona. Our two pugs and lab mix mutt are a boisterous bunch. After her arrival Leia took one look at the orange fuzz ball and claimed her as her "puppy". Grooming her, driving off any other dog or cat that looked at her crossed eyed, following her around everywhere, they were inseparable. Now Fi's one of the gang.

She'd missed them. They'd been gone forever and obviously hadn't had proper chance to fill their Ragamuffin adoration quota yet. They got the full cutie pie greeting. Fi followed them around chirping hello and handing out ankle hugs. When Michel tried to turn in she and Romana were competing for the end of the bed. Forty five pounds of puppy ends up sleeping off to the side on a blanket because the kitten rules the roost.

Friday, 9 March 2012

Jen and I would like to say a friendly "Hello" to everyone and introduce Fiona. Fi is a red tabby and white purebred Ragamuffin. She makes grown men squee with her cute-fu. My husband, son, friends, and random delivery people have been melted into submission by her. Upon her fluffy shoulders sit our hopes and dreams of starting a small cattery. She is our first Queen.

We were looking into showing her at an upcoming cat show on the 17th, but the amount of paperwork and memberships needed stymied us. Never let it be said that there was no work involved in cat fancy!
I've been filling out forms to join so many groups, so I could join other groups, just to be official. But Fiona's worth every carbon triplicate. We want to do things right for our girl. With any luck we can get breed recognition for Muffins with the C.C.A. and start showing her before long.